Which of these would you choose for a Les Paul?

[Rex_Rocker]

Asking for a friend.

J/K. Just sold the Custom and Distortion Neck. Love to try new pickups out, so I kinda want to swap out the JB in the Les Paul. I like it, but I don't love it as much as the Antiquity JB in my LTD. It's kinda thin and scratchy by comparison. This is a particularly bright and aggressive Les Paul. I kinda want something fuller and smoother, but not completely different, especially since I do like it, just don't love it as much. Something along the lines. If possible, 5%-ish hotter.

Which of these would you think fit my description better and still be a good match for a brighter Les Paul?

Drop other suggestions if you have it, please.

Thanks!

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

Duncan distortion and turn your treble down on the OD or Amp.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Duncan distortion and turn your treble down on the OD or Amp.

Oh, I love the Distortion. I just wanna try something else this time around.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

To the people who voted other... what would you put in there?

 

[Artie]

Sorry. Perpetual Burn is one of my favorites.

 

[esandes]

Fuller and smoother may be contrary to what you're expecting to hear for suggestions based on what options you posted but an A2 based, overwound SD might be the answer. Perhaps the 78 or Slash 2.0.

Directionally, you prefer the antiquity JB over the JB. That leads me to suggest the A2 balance, smoothness and fullness.

Do you want percussive, attack sensitive pickups that sound great clean and clean up well with lower guitar volume or do you want a one dimensional compressed mud that sounds like shit clean?

 

[Archer250]

Super Distortion or Aldrich

The Aldrich is really close to the JB, just with less high mids and more lows.

 

[hamerfan]

Sorry, but my to-go Bridge pup in a Les Paul is now the Distortion NECK pup. For a smoother tone than a Distortion you can try the Tone Zone or a AT-1.
The Breed is no longer availiable, maybe in their DMZ Custom Shop.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Fuller and smoother may be contrary to what you're expecting to hear for suggestions based on what options you posted but an A2 based, overwound SD might be the answer. Perhaps the 78 or Slash 2.0.

Directionally, you prefer the antiquity JB over the JB. That leads me to suggest the A2 balance, smoothness and fullness.

Do you want percussive, attack sensitive pickups that sound great clean and clean up well with lower guitar volume or do you want a one dimensional compressed mud that sounds like **** clean?

A2 might not be such a bad idea. Maybe RTM?

I've had the Slash before. I didn't really find it all that fat, and it's way lower output than I want right now.

I don't really need bridge pickups to sound good clean or clean up well. I don't play clean all that often, and if I do, I got my neck pickup which I always prefer the sound of clean.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Sorry, but my to-go Bridge pup in a Les Paul is now the Distortion NECK pup. For a smoother tone than a Distortion you can try the Tone Zone or a AT-1.
The Breed is no longer availiable, maybe in their DMZ Custom Shop.

I think the Breed is still available from the directly or from some dealers. There are lots of Breeds on eBay.

 

[Aceman]

You think you tell 5% hotter, when we are talking JB levels?

I say make a JB2 and call it a day. Or a JB8...

 

[Lucius Paisley]

To the people who voted other... what would you put in there?

No deal, McCutcheon.

 

[xxxplorer]

Motor City Afwayu, Arcane DOOM, Wagner Ironman Neck with Alnico 5 or 2 swapped.

Breed is also great.

 

[soulforger]

To the people who voted other... what would you put in there?

Dimarzio Super 3

 

[Seashore]

Bare Knuckle Crawler is a nice smooth medium-high output pickup with great clarity. Less edgy than the ones I like most. Might be a good fit.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Bare Knuckle Crawler is a nice smooth medium-high output pickup with great clarity. Less edgy than the ones I like most. Might be a good fit.

I was meaning to add the Holy Diver in there as well. I know the guy from Sylosis used one way back when. But I fear it might actually be lower output rather than hotter like I want it to be.

 

[Archer250]

I was meaning to add the Holy Diver in there as well. I know the guy from Sylosis used one way back when. But I fear it might actually be lower output rather than hotter like I want it to be.

It's a JB without its balls, IMO

The issue with BKP high output pickups to me is that they seem voiced for big strings and low tunings

So when they're played outside of that, they lack oomph

 

[Seashore]

It's a JB without its balls, IMO

The issue with BKP high output pickups to me is that they seem voiced for big strings and low tunings

So when they're played outside of that, they lack oomph

Big strings maybe - I do like thicker low strings in general - but I think the Rebel Yell, Cold Sweat, and Nailbomb sound awesome in standard tuning. I liked the Crawler too, but wanted more attack. No lack of oomph in my rig. Just a different feel. I haven't played the HD, but I've heard it described as "polite" and "refined" so it wasn't high on the list.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

It's a JB without its balls, IMO

The issue with BKP high output pickups to me is that they seem voiced for big strings and low tunings

So when they're played outside of that, they lack oomph

Well, I use 11-56 and I'm in Drop C. So I'm not in Drop Z with bridge tension wires, but I guess that more or less makes me the target audience, LOL.

But if it has no balls, then it's the opposite of what I want.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

So um... kinda ordered the Aldrich, LOL. I hope it's hot, because I see a lot of reviews saying "it doesn't feel as hot as the JB". The DCR seems to suggest otherwise, especially since it's running on the same mag, but we'll see.